Queridos

Queridos is a Spanish adjective and, when used in context, can function as a vocative or as a noun phrase. It derives from the verb querer, meaning to love or to want, with the participle suffix -ido, resulting in a sense of being beloved or dear. The masculine plural form is queri dos, the feminine plural is queridas, while the singular forms are querido (masculine) and querida (feminine).

In common usage, querido/querida and its plural forms serve as terms of endearment or polite address. Queridos can appear at the start of letters or editorials as a salutation, for example, “Queridos lectores” or “Queridos amigos.” It is also used more broadly to refer to people one holds dear, as in phrases like “los queridos de la familia” (the loved ones of the family). The word carries affectionate nuance and can be employed in both informal and semi-formal contexts, depending on tone and audience.

The term is widely used in Spanish-speaking cultures, and its Portuguese counterpart, also queridos, shares a similar meaning and usage. In formal writing, alternatives such as estimados or apreciados may be used to convey respect without the intimate undertone inherent in queridos. While queridos is versatile, its effectiveness as a mode of address depends on the relationship between speaker and audience and the overall register of the text.